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Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective Counselling psychology in Australia has experienced a steep decline over recent years, with the closure of postgraduate training programs and a reduction in registered practitioners. Professional identity has been identified as a factor in this decline and a potential area of intervention to halt further losses. However, no research has directly investigated it. The aim of this research was to develop knowledge of how Australian counselling psychologists understand and describe their professional identity. Method An online survey was distributed to Australian counselling psychologists (n = 92) seeking information regarding respondents’ demographics and perceptions of their professional identity. Results Reflexive thematic analysis developed four themes: (1) I am proud of my professional identity as a counselling psychologist, (2) my professional community sustains me, (3) unknown, unsupported, and undermined, and (4) money, worth and the psychological hierarchy. Conclusions These findings indicate a narrative of cohesive internal and intra-group professional identity. New insights of the research include counselling psychologists’ professional pride, along with their construction of the context of the systemic challenges they face. Practical implications involve development and repositioning of counselling psychology’s professional identity within the culture of Australian psychology.
Published Version
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